Sexagessamine Sunday

Sexagesima is second Sunday before Ash Wednesday and the eighth Sunday before Easter. It serves as a key point in the pre-Lenten season, a traditional period used to spiritually prepare for the rigors of Lent. 

The name comes from the Latin sexagesimus meaning sixtieth, while it is actually fifty six days before Easter, the name is an approximation used to fit the numerical sequence alongside Septuagesima (70th) and Quinquagesima (50th)

Ash Wednesday marks the official beginning of Lent, a 40 day liturgical season (excluding Sundays) of prayer, fasting and repentance leading upto Easter. 

Rigors of Lent refers to the traditional  practices of self-discipline, sacrifice and spiritual training that Christins undertake to prepare for Easter. 

Some of these traditions, practices and customs existed even before Jesus and had its roots in Jewish, 
Greco-Roman asceticism, Indian religions, Buddhism, and Jainism, pre-Islamic Arab traditions and ancient Mesopotamian religions. 

The number of 40 is very important and goes to tribal societies across the globe. 

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